Brick lifting device



1%. w. J; SULLIVAN.

BRICK LIFTING DEVICE Fi l ed June 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,033,746 BRICK LIFTING DEVICE William J. Sullivan, Chicago, 111., assignor to Morris Townley, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 1, 1933, Serial No. 673,813

1 Claim.

My present invention is a novel and improved apparatus for lifting brick, and is particularly directed to the brick engaging mechanism.

Heretofore, it has been customary to utilize mechanical apparatus for lifting a row, stack, or unit of brick in the manufacture of same, in the building of a kiln therefrom, in loading and unloading, or transporting the finished or burnt brick from place to place.

My present invention is directed to improve and perfect such devices and to develop an improved novel and efficient brick-engaging device and lifting means.

A great difficulty with prior lifting devices, particularly when intended for use upon soft brick, i. e., not yet burnt and during manufacture, has

been that the brick engaging devices and lifting fingers would indent or mar the unburned brick. An important object of the present invention is to eliminate such a difficulty.

A further object of the present invention is to have a brick engaging and lifting finger device which'will'act simultaneously and instantly to engage and clamp the brick at the initiation of the engaging action.

"Thus in the mechanical handling of brick, par- ;ticularly when units are being handled, a plurality of spaced rows are set, with the brick unit piled on top of the same, the spaces permitting the insulating of the lifting fingers of the brick handling apparatus. As the apparatus is raised, its weight actuates the clamping means which are adapted to lift the bottom row of brick, this being effected by a lateral clamping action on the side of the bottom row of brick between the ground floor or support on which they rest, and

the height of the individual brick in the bottom row. This clamping action therefore must be instantly operative to catch the bottommost brick of the unit or stack and lift the same with the rest of the stack. My invention improves these clamping instrumentalities, which engage instantly and quickly to clamp a brick, preferably below the center of the brick, in the bottom row, thus insuring their being carried up with the load on which the unit is set when released and the lever withdrawn or removed therefrom.

' It is, therefore, an especially important feature of my present invention to improve and perfect the clamping action and to provide the operating instrumentalities which will effectually clamp or exert the clamping action with a degree, extent, and amount of force to insure the lifting of the .bottommost row of brick. Furthermore, these clamping devices automatically compensate for difference in thickness or thinness of the brick being clamped, softness or hardness of unburned brick, and still further insure the strength of the material in the devices. It will be appreciated 5 that in the brick lifting fingers but a limited space is permitted for actuation of the clamping devices. My invention permits a plurality of clamping devices or plates to be housed within the finger and to be simultaneously actuated by the movement of a single rod, although each plate is individually actuated through the intervention of a separate spring. Thus, I am enabled to make a strong, rigid construction, insuring instant, uniform, and positive action of the clamping plates either when being forced out in the clamping action or when being housed within the area of the brick lifting finger.

A further improved feature is that by my present construction the clamping plates are effectively locked or held in retracted or housed position. Also by my present method of construction the clamping plates will be held in their retracted position until a sufiiciently substantial or great weight is exerted on the operating lever to overcome the locking position. This locking ly increased strength eliminates the difiiculty and danger of breakage and damage of such prior devices, and also necessarily actuates all the plates in the lifting finger connected with the rod simultaneously and uniformly.

A still further improvement and advantageous feature in my present construction is that the brick engaging plates or clamps on each finger are operated. independently from those on each other finger, as well also as having each clamp operated independently through the instnnnentality of the spring feature while they are all moved in unison with a single operated rod.

My present invention of a new and novel brick engaging device and lifting fingers has a further very important capacity of being readily attached to present existing types of lifting frames, brick ,eipal ,operation of the same. ;inve ntion is applicableto the unithandling sys- .tem Wherebyan entire unit of brickis lifted to- Also my improved lifting and clamping finger and devices can be utilized with equal facility, both in brick handling apparatus for handling unburned brick-as in building kilns-or other unit stack formation, and also in handling burned brick in unit stack formation.

Thus my invention enables a brick handling machine to be utilized both for setting unburned brick in a kiln and for handling burnt brick for transporting from one place to another, or from cars, barges, or the like to wagons, trucks, etc. The ease, delicacy, and facility with which the fingers operate, enable a brick handling apparatus equipped with my present invention to grip and lift the unit stacks of brick when they are on uneven or non-level surfaces or supports, such for example as burnt brick after the kiln has settled unevenly, or on the decks of barges, which are curved or crowned substantially, my improved apparatus handling such unit brick with equal facility as in lifting and transporting from level surfaces, such as platforms, fiat cars, or

barges.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

,Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a brick lifting frame incorporating my improved clamping fingers and devices;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view show- .ing the clamping device and operating means,

lifting finger mechanism may be utilized in the various mechanical brick lifting and brick setting frames now in general use and in the prin- Thus, my present gether with the: bottom spaced rows of brick on which the unit isbuilt but witha much quicker clamping action thereby. It is customary ,in ;-handling units of brick tohave the bottom or spaced rowformed with two brick deep set edge- .wise, thus giving a substantial height and an appropriate space to insertjthelifting fingersof the; handling apparatus.

Asshownin Fig. 1, a typical handling frame is ;illustrated in diametric form, having vertical frame members I, 2, and 3, carrying a rigid cross-frame ,4, to which are secured rigid lifting fingers 5,-5 by suitable connections with the crossbar 4. An upper frameworkfi to which the .lifting p ulleys land 8 may be attached-either to a turntable, if desired, or directly to the lifting meansare also shown.

Referring to Fig. 1, a unit stack of brick is designated in dotted lines illustrating the spaced brick for the bottom row in the finger course. Through these plurality of spaces in the unit, are

slid the individual fingers 5, and as the apparatus is lifted these fingers 5 contact with the bottom -of the unit stack and raisethe same, by clampzingmeans meanwhile laterally expandingto engage and clamp the bottom row.

In order to effect quick operation of the clamping means, I mount an operating bar In pivoted at the outer end of each finger 5 to alink II and having the inner end adjacent the lifting frame and cross bar 4, secured by a spring I2. This operating .bar is attached to a bell crank lever I5 pivoted at I6 to the finger 5 and-having a link H with one end I8 pivoted to the bar II], the other end I9 pivoted to one arm of the bell crank lever I5. The opposite end of the bell crank lever I 5 actuates the series of brick engaging clamps'2023 in position to contact with and insert a clamping pressure upon the lowermost brick of the finger course in the unit or stack to be lifted. These clamping plates 20, see Figs. 3 and 4, are adapted to be normally housed within an appropriate recessZI formed in,the side of the finger 5, each plate being mounted on a link 22 pivoted to a stud 23 secured to the finger 5, and with the outer end of said link pivoted at 24 to a pair of depending flanges or ears 25-25 bent downwardly in the center part of the clamp 20, seeFig. 3.

To effect a quick expansion and contraction of the plate 20, I provide an actuating arm comprising the rod 33 attached to the link 22 between its fixed pivot 23 and the pin 24, uniting the opposite end of the link 22 to the clamping plate 20. Thus, a slight movement of the rod :39 effects a. quick clamping action or a quick retraction of the clamping plate.

Preferably I arrange each clamping-plate20 to be independently and individually controlled by a spring clamping action. For this purpose,,I provide a rod 33 adapted to bereciprocatedwithin the finger 5, having a bearingat the outerv end at 34, see Fig. 1, and at its inner end, being connected to one arm of the bell' crank lever I5, preferably through the pin 35 and an enlarged slot 36 in the bell crank lever as shown. This rod.33 carries a plurality of hubs 40, each with a lug 4I extending therefrom and in position toengage the opposite end of the adj aoent link 30. The hub 40 is mounted to slide freely on the rod-33 and. each is normally held by its coiled spring 44, bearing between one end of the hub .40, and the collar fixed to the shaft 33 to holdtheclamps 20 housed within the recesses 2|. The action of. the spring 44 is to allow for varying thicknessesin a brick engaged by each clamp 20 so astohave an independent spring action on each,.the. distance between the sliding hub 40 and each adjacent stop 46 being sufficient to allowfor thisvariation in thickness of the brick to be clamped. The main action of the clamps is controlledby the sliding movement of the rod .33 through the action of the bell crank lever I5, and the spring I2 operating in opposition to the weight of the brick stack on the rod II] when said vweightis relieved or removed.

Upon the lifting of the brick frame, however, the rod I0 contacting quickly withthebottom of the unit stack of brick will operate thebell crank lever I5, thus moving the rod 33 .tothe right, as shown in the drawings, and accordingly moving the rods 30, links 22, and clampslfl; into brick engaging and clamping position, asshovvn in dotted lines Fig. 4. Each individual brick clamp 20 is actuated in its clamping action-byv the compression of its spring. 44, sothat there will connections, so arranged that the clamping plates 20 may be in substantial alignment with the extreme bottom portion of each finger 5, a further lower grip on the adjacent brick rows is assured.

My improved mechanism is extremely simple, strong, and efficient. Ample room is provided for the operating instrumentalities and by utilizing and arranging the sliding rod and individual springs for each clamp in the portion of the finger above the clamp, breakage of these parts and need for replacement is eliminated, while the positioning of the clamp itself in the lowermost portion possible is of great importance in insuring gripping of the bottom row of brick before the entire frame is lifted materially.

Also, by means of my operating rods III, which are engaged by the brick stack in advance of the engagement of the lifting finger itself with the bottom of the stack, a still further quick gripping action is secured. The action of the plurality of springs 44, either independently or in cooperation with the spring l2, and the mechanism including the bell crank l and lever In all act to hold and,

in effect, lock the plates in housed position with the non-positive or impositive action, so that this locking effect will have to be overcome by substantial force applied to the operating bar l0.

Consequently when the force or weight on the bar I0 is sumcient to overcome this impositive locking of the clamping plates in their housed or retracted position, it insures that ample force will be available to effect the instant, firm clamping of the lower row of brick and prevents the brick from dropping or falling out. This action of the bar In also is in advance of the fingers picking up the load of the stack or unit of brick, thereby still further insuring a gripping of the lowermost course of brick and the lifting of the same by the apparatus. Conversely, the same advantages and action result in setting down the stack of brick and releasing the apparatus, the clamping plates moving quickly or snapping back into housed position'to facilitate the removal of the brick finger and the entire apparatus.

I claim:

Apparatus of the kind described adapted to engage, lift, transport, and release a stack of brick, having a spaced bottom row, comprising bricklifting fingers to be positioned between the spaced bottom row and to engage'and lift the brick stack, including a plurality of brick-engaging side clamps to lift the bottom row of brick, a plurality of said clamps being associated with each finger, a rod lengthwise of each finger and a yielding connection with each of said clamps, a bell crank lever at one end of each finger pivoted to said rod to move the rod longitudinally, a bar secured to said lever, a U-shaped spring having one end secured to said bar and normally holding said bar in raised position, whereby the clamps are housed adjacent their respective finger and. in inoperative position, said bar being depressed by the weight of the brick stack to thereby actuate the rod, exerting a pulling action on each clamp, and the connections between the rod and each clamp increasing the speed of movement of the clamp relatively with the movement of the rod.

WILLIAM J. SULLIVAN. 

